[attach id=247865 size="medium"]New York’s famous Statue of Liberty.[/attach]

Emirates will launch its first Europe-US route on October 1, with a direct service between Milan and New York.

The airline said it has timed its flight schedule to ensure maximum connectivity with other key feeder markets.

Maltese travellers wishing to travel across the Atlantic with Emirates can reach Milan on direct Ryanair and Air Malta flights.

“This new route is the perfect marriage of two like-minded cities. Both destinations offer visitors a dynamic mix of culture and business and we are confident that this new service will not only facilitate travel in both directions, but will also create a greater exchange of business, trade and tourism,” said Emirates president Tim Clark.

Operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, the flight will be an extension of one of Emirates’ existing three daily Dubai to Milan flights. The service will originate in Dubai with passengers then able to enjoy a stopover in Milan en route to New York.

On the return flight, passengers will have the option of stopping in Milan before continuing on to Dubai.

This new route further expands Maltese travellers’ transatlantic options, following Lufthansa’s recent announcement that it would be increasing its flight frequency between Malta and its German hubs of Munich and Frankfurt this summer.